Submit Report On Deepfakes By July 21: Delhi HC To MeitY Panel

The Delhi High Court has reportedly directed a sub-committee of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to submit its report on the issue of deepfakes by July 21. 

As per PTI, a bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued the directions while hearing a clutch of petitions against non-regulation of deepfakes and the threat of the technology’s potential misuse. 

While granting time to the panel, the HC also directed the committee to also consider the petitioners’ suggestions while examining the issue. “By the next date we expect that the committee shall complete the deliberations and submit its report,” the bench said reportedly. 

The court has slated the matter for next hearing on July 21. 

During the hearing, the counsel for MeitY submitted a status report on the working of the panel, saying that the committee had held two meetings. It is pertinent to note that the ministry, during a hearing in November 2024, had informed the HC that it had formed a panel to study issues related to deepfakes. 

Arguing before the HC, the MeitY counsel contended that the committee needed to further discuss the issue and sought three months to file a comprehensive report. Agreeing to the demand, the court agreed to the contention and granted three months time to the panel. 

The Case Before The Delhi HC: The matter involves a petition filed by journalist and India TV editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma, who has sought regulation of deepfakes and directions to block public access to apps that enable the creation of such synthetic content. 

In his plea, Sharma reportedly claimed that the proliferation of deepfake technology poses a significant threat to various aspects of society, including misinformation and disinformation. The petition also claims that deepfakes undermine the integrity of public discourse and the democratic process.

The second petition has been filed by lawyer Chaitanya Rohilla, who has also sought directions against unregulated use of artificial intelligence (AI). Another petition has been filed by model Kanchan Nagar, seeking prohibition of deepfakes for non-consensual commercial purposes and in commercial advertising (in cases where original artists are not compensated fairly).